TEAT AND DRINKING CONTAINER HAVING THE TEAT

Abstract

A teat for a drinking bottle has a nipple opening in the form of a slit arrangement. The slit arrangement has end portions which comprise curved paths. These curved paths resist tearing.

Claims

1. A teat for a drinking bottle, comprising: a nipple portion located at one end of a teat axis; and a nipple opening located in the nipple portion, wherein the nipple opening comprises a slit arrangement comprising at least one slit, the slit arrangement having end points each terminating a respective end portion, wherein at least one end portion forms a curved path having a first minimum radius of curvature and forming an open shape, wherein the slit arrangement has a straighter section before each end portion, with a smooth transition from the straighter section to the end portion, the straighter section having a length equal at least to said first minimum radius of curvature and the straighter section having a second minimum radius of curvature at least 2 times the first minimum radius of curvature.

2. The teat of claim 1, wherein each curved path comprises a curved line which follows at least a 90 degree path, for example at least a 180 degree path, for example at least a 225 degree path.

3. The teat of claim 1, wherein each curved path comprises a curved line which follows a spiral path of at least 360 degrees.

4. The teat of claim 1, wherein the slit arrangement comprises at least one connecting portion between the end portions, wherein the end portions are each at a respective end of a connecting portion.

5. The teat of claim 4, wherein the slit arrangement has two end portions with a single connecting portion between them.

6. The teat of claim 4, wherein the slit arrangement has three connecting portions which meet at a center.

7. The teat of claim 4, wherein the slit arrangement has three connecting portions which meet at a T junction.

8. The teat of claim 4, wherein the slit arrangement has a number N of end portions and a number N of connecting portions which meet at a center, where N is four or more.

9. The teat of claim 4, wherein the connecting portions are straight.

10. The teat of claim 1, wherein the slit arrangement has a uniform slit width.

11. The teat of claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the curved path is in the range 0.05 to 0.4 mm.

12. The teat of claim 1, comprising an integral silicone component.

13. The teat of claim 1, wherein the slit arrangement fits in a smallest circle of diameter in the range 1 mm to 5 mm.

14. A feeding bottle comprising: a container; and the teat of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a typical drinking bottle;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows an example of a known teat;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows images of a newly formed Y-shaped slit and after compression 2000 times in a controlled test set up;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a first set of examples of modified design for the slit arrangement;

[0053] FIG. 5 shows alternative shape designs for the end portions, applied to a Y-shaped slit arrangement;

[0054] FIG. 6 shows two possible preferred designs; and

[0055] FIG. 7 shows images of a newly formed Y-shaped slit with curved ends and after 200,000 compression cycles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0056] The invention will be described with reference to the Figures.

[0057] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the Figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0058] The invention provides a teat for a drinking bottle having a nipple opening in the form of a slit arrangement. The slit arrangement has end portions which comprise curved paths. These curved paths resist tearing.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a typical drinking bottle for bottle feeding a baby or infant using a teat. The drinking bottle 10 comprises a container 12, a teat 14 and a connection ring 16 which secures the teat 14 to the container. The connection ring for example screws over a thread at the top of the container. The teat closes the container top opening.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows an example of a known teat 14.

[0061] The teat 14 has an upper nipple portion 20 located at one end of a teat axis 22 and a nipple opening 24 at an upper end of the nipple portion 20. The nipple opening may be at the very end of the nipple portion as shown, but it may instead be recessed back from the very top of the nipple portion. It is shown in a central location, but it could equally be offset to one side.

[0062] A base rim portion 26 is located at an opposite end of the teat axis for seating against an opening of the container 12.

[0063] Note that the top or upper parts are defined as those nearest the nipple and the bottom, base or lower parts are defined as those nearest the rim. These terms are simply used for convenience and do not imply any particular orientation (with respect to the direction of gravity).

[0064] In the example shown, the teat has a duck bill valve 30 formed between the upper nipple portion 20 and the base rim portion 26.

[0065] The valve has a first valve flap 32 and a second valve flap 34 which define between them a valve slit opening 36.

[0066] There is a skirt portion 40 below the upper nipple portion 20. This provides a gradual widening from the desired nipple size e.g. around 10 mm diameter, to the desired container size, e.g. 40 mm diameter. It mimics the shape of a breast.

[0067] The teat is generally rotationally symmetric, i.e. other than the valve 30. It may be generally circular but it may also be non-circular.

[0068] The teat 14 is injection molded, using the nipple opening 24 as the liquid entry and air escape point.

[0069] This invention relates specifically to the nipple opening, and in particular a nipple opening in the form of a slit arrangement.

[0070] A problem with a slit opening is that the ends of the slit can tear with use of the teat.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows images of a Y-shaped slit arrangement, i.e. a slit arrangement of three linear slits 120 degrees apart from each other around at a center point. The left image shows the newly formed slit arrangement and the right image shows the slit arrangement after compression 2000 times in a controlled test set up.

[0072] The compression direction is represented by the arrows. Slit tearing can be seen in the regions 40. Similar tearing behavior is seen in returned teats from a user test. The result of the tearing is a significant flow rate increase.

[0073] The inventors have determined that the tearing happens due to the amount of compression, potentially in combination with the vacuum forces. In particular, the analysis of the inventors has shown that stresses resulting from the teat compression are highest at the ends of the slit, especially when the compression direction is aligned with the slit direction. For this reason, the tearing shown in FIG. 3 is most pronounced for the downwardly directed slit leg.

[0074] The invention makes use of rounded slit ends, and they are found to reduce the peak stresses arising at the slit ends.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a first set of examples of modified design for the slit arrangement.

[0076] In each design, there is a straight part or multiple straight parts, which may be considered to be connecting portions which connect end portions. More generally, the straight part is a straighter section than the end portion. Furthermore, there is a smooth transition from the straighter section to the end portion. For example, the tangential direction at the end of the straighter section is the same as the tangential direction at the start of the end portion.

[0077] The connecting portions together form a conventional slit arrangement configuration, and the end portions may be considered to be the modified design parts of the slit arrangement. The connecting portions are all straight lines in the examples of FIG. 4, but they could equally have a curvature, although the curvature of the end portions is tighter.

[0078] The curved paths have a first minimum radius of curvature. The examples of FIG. 4 shows circular arcs as the end portions, hence they have a single radius of curvature. However, each end portion may have multiple radii of curvature (e.g. the spiral of FIG. 5G).

[0079] Each end portion connects to a respective straighter section having a length equal at least to said minimum radius of curvature. Thus, there is a straighter section which performs the main valve slit function. The length of each straighter section may be equal to at least two or at least three times the minimum radius of curvature.

[0080] The straighter section has a second minimum radius of curvature at least 2 times, or at least 3 times, the first minimum radius of curvature.

[0081] FIG. 4A shows a linear slit, wherein each end is curved around by 270 degrees, with a constant radius of curvature (i.e. equal to the minimum radius of curvature). The two ends both curve in a clockwise direction, so that the slit arrangement has rotational symmetry (of order 2). There is thus one connecting portion and two end portions. The connection portion may be considered to comprise two straighter sections; one preceding each end portion.

[0082] FIG. 4B shows a Y-shaped slit (i.e. a 3 arm star shape), wherein each end is curved around by 270 degrees, with a constant radius of curvature. The three ends all curve in a clockwise direction, so that the slit arrangement has rotational symmetry (of order 3). There are thus three connecting portions and three end portions.

[0083] FIG. 4C shows a slit arrangement with four connecting portions and four end portions (i.e. a 4 arm star shape). Each end is again curved around by 270 degrees, with a constant radius of curvature. The four ends all curve in a clockwise direction, so that the slit arrangement has rotational symmetry (of order 4).

[0084] FIG. 4D shows a slit arrangement with five connecting portions and five end portions. Each end is again curved around by 270 degrees, with a constant radius of curvature. The give ends all curve in a clockwise direction, so that the slit arrangement has rotational symmetry (of order 5).

[0085] FIG. 4E shows a slit arrangement with three separate slits, each of the type shown in FIG. 4A. They are oriented in a radial direction from a center, and arranged at 120 degrees to each other around that center. The overall slit arrangement is thus again rotationally symmetric (with order 3) but is formed by separate linear slits.

[0086] Each slit has an inward end portion and an outward end portion. In the example shown, both the inward end portions and the outward end portions have the curved shape. However, it is primarily important to prevent tearing outwardly (hence increasing outer size of the slit). Thus, the outward end portions have the curved end shapes, but the inward end portions may terminate as the end of a straight line.

[0087] FIG. 4F shows a slit arrangement with three connecting portions but forming a T-shape. Each end is again curved around by 270 degrees, with a constant radius of curvature. The three ends all curve in a clockwise direction. This example shows that overall rotational symmetry is not essential.

[0088] There may be more connecting portions and end portions, but the design may then become challenging from a manufacturing perspective.

[0089] The examples of FIG. 4 all have the same shape of the end portions. They also all have curvature in the same sense. However, different end portions may curve in different senses.

[0090] The curved path at the end of each slit forms an open shape. In most examples, the curved path extends around more than 180 degrees. The curved path is continuous with the connecting portion, i.e. wherein the connecting portion joins to the start of the curved end portion, there is no discontinuity in the direction, so that at the junction both have the same direction/tangential direction.

[0091] Although the curved end portions have tighter curvature than the straighter sections, the curved end portions do form a significant part of the slit shape. For example if the maximum slit width (e.g. from the top to bottom for the design of FIG. 4A) is W, the size (e.g. effective diameter) of the curved path may be between 0.15 W and 0.35 W. Thus, the curved path is not a very tight curve and the curved paths form a significant part of the overall slit width. The effective diameter may be assumed to be the maximum linear dimension of the (space occupied by the) curved path, for the case of a non-circular curvature.

[0092] FIG. 5 shows alternative shape designs for the end portions, applied to the Y-shaped version of FIG. 4B.

[0093] FIG. 5A corresponds to FIG. 4B, and thus shows end portions with a 270 degrees curve.

[0094] FIG. 5B shows a 180 degree curve.

[0095] FIG. 5C shows that different radii of curvature of the end portions are possible in different examples. The radius of curvature of FIG. 5C is less than for FIG. 5A despite the same overall size of the slit arrangement.

[0096] In the examples of FIGS. 5A to 5C, the curved path of each end portion is continuous with the connecting portion, with a smooth transition from the connecting portion to the end portion and with curvature in one rotation only. FIG. 5D shows that the curved path may have a curvature in one direction (e.g. anticlockwise) before the curvature of the curved end portion in an opposite direction (e.g. clockwise). This forms an eye shape. The eye shape must not be closed, in order to prevent cutting out the complete hole (which would then lose the no-drip functionality). There is still a smooth transition from the straighter section to the end portion, in that there are no discontinuities.

[0097] FIG. 5E shows a curved path between 180 degrees and 270 degrees, for example of 230 degrees.

[0098] FIG. 5F shows an alternative design in which the curved path of each end portion is no longer continuous with the connecting portion. This design is not within the scope of the claims. Instead, the end portion forms a head extending across the end of the connecting portion, thereby forming a T-junction. The head is curved and each head has two curved ends.

[0099] FIG. 5G shows a spiral shape to the end portion, namely a curve with progressively decreasing radius of curvature and extending around at least 360 degrees.

[0100] The example of FIG. 5 all have a curve at the end portion which curves in one direction only (e.g. a J-shape or a U-shape). However, an individual end portion may also curve in multiple directions (e.g. an S-shape).

[0101] FIG. 6 shows two possible preferred designs. A Y-shaped slit arrangement is chosen since this design is symmetrical (when compressing the teat) every 60 degrees, which is beneficial over a cross slit that is only symmetrical every 90 degrees.

[0102] The symmetry helps to keep the flow rate as equal as possible to the baby independent of orientation. However, more than 4 slit legs may be challenging from a manufacturing point of view, so a Y-shaped slit arrangement is one preferred option.

[0103] The total diameter of the slit (i.e. the diameter of the circle 50 within which the slit arrangement fits) may be in the range 1.2 mm (the left image of FIG. 6) up to 5.0 mm (the right image in FIG. 6) for example with a size for a lowest flow teat close to 1.5 mm and a size for a highest flow teat close to 3.4 mm. The high flow rate teat offers a solution for feeding thicker liquids.

[0104] The curved end portion 52 is in these examples starts in a tangential direction to the slit line (thus there is a smooth transition with no kink) and the radius of curvature is for example in the range mm to 0.4 mm dependent on the wall thickness of the teat through which the slit arrangement extends. The wall thickness is for example in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 mm. An example of a preferred radius of curvature is about 0.2 mm to prevent peak stresses at the slit end.

[0105] The overall slit arrangement for example fits in a smallest circle of diameter in the range 1 mm to 5 mm, i.e. it has a largest lateral dimension in the range 1 mm to 5 mm.

[0106] The slit arrangement preferably has a maximum slit width of 100 m in a rest state. There may be a uniform slit width with this slit width. However, there may instead be a small opening along a slit, for example located in the center of the slit arrangement. The remainder of the slit may have a narrower width.

[0107] The slit width may be zero in a rest state. When there is a small opening, it may be the only part of the slit which does not close in the rest state.

[0108] It has been found that preferred shapes for the curved end portions include a curve of at least 180 degrees, and preferably more than 180 degrees. An example is for example a range of 200 to 250 degrees. The maximum 250 degree curve prevents the end point of the curved path being too close to the connecting portion which it is approaching.

[0109] The curved end portions may be formed by a correspondingly shaped knife. Of course, the slit arrangement could instead be created in a 2-step cutting approach (with straight cuts and curved cuts separated), but this may be more complex to manufacture.

[0110] FIG. 7 shows images of a Y-shaped slit, i.e. a slit arrangement of three linear slits 120 degrees apart from each other meeting at a center point, with the curved end portions. The left image shows the newly formed slit arrangement and the right image shows the slit arrangement after 200,000 compression cycles.

[0111] Because the compression stresses are now spread over the entire curvature of the slit arrangement, the tear resistance is improved, and indeed no tearing is present in the right image.

[0112] The teat may be used in a feeding bottle or drinking cup. The invention thus also provides a feeding bottle comprising a container and the teat described above.

[0113] The slit arrangement is for example formed in a surface which is not planar, for example in a domed shape.

[0114] The teat itself may have a constant wall thickness, but there may instead be a different (e.g. reduced) wall thickness of the teat where the slit arrangement resides.

[0115] In addition, a portion of thicker teat material may also provide resistance to tearing. For example, one outward end of a slit may have a curved shape as described above, and the inward end may terminate as an end of a straight line, but there may then be a thicker portion of the teat material to prevent tearing.

[0116] A portion of thicker teat material may also be at the end of a curved end portion, so that both the curvature and the thicker teat material serve to resist tearing.

[0117] The slit arrangement may be formed perpendicularly through the material of the teat, but it may instead be formed as an angled cut through the material of the teat.

[0118] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality.

[0119] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0120] If the term adapted to is used in the claims or description, it is noted the term adapted to is intended to be equivalent to the term configured to.

[0121] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.